Can I plant annuals over my perennials after they die for the season?

Question

When my spring bulbs wither up and I cut them back, can I plant annuals over them for the remainder of the summer?

Answer 1

I would plant around them so that when the annuals die and you remove the dead plants you do not disturb the bulbs.

Answer 2

"There should be no problem planting annuals over bulbs if the bulbs were originally planted as deeply as they should have been. Leave the foliage on the bulbs until it is thoroughly dry; as long as it is green it is producing food reserves which enable the bulb to bloom the following spring. Do not cultivate the soil deeply as you plant the annuals to avoid damaging the bulbs. If setting out transplants, dig an adequately sized planting hole between the remaining bulb foliage and plant the transplants as you normally would. Sow seeds in a shallow furrow. As the plants grow you can loosely tie the bulb foliage in bunches to provide additional room."
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/PLANTanswers/flowers/bulbs.html

Even though it's possible to plant over the tops of the bulbs after their foliage dies for the season, I prefer to plant the annuals around & in between the bulbs. I also like to interplant perennials among the bulbs to hide the bulbs dying leaves.

Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

Yea, as long as you don't damage the bulbs. Next spring after the annuals have gone the bulbs will reemerge.